Torenia plant named ‘Sunrenicobaio’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant named ‘Sunrenicobaio’, characterized by its compact and mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; violet-colored flowers with white-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunrenicobaio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia, botanically known as Torenia sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrenicobaio’.

The new Torenia is a whole plant mutation of a prorietary selection of Torenia sp. identified as code number TH1, not patented. The new Torenia was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plant in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in March, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Torenia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunrenicobaio has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrenicobaio’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrenicobaio’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Violet-colored flowers with white-colored centers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the parent selection, plants of the new Torenia are smaller and have narrower leaves. In addition, plants of the new Torenia and the parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the parent selection have violet-colored flowers with violet-colored centers.

Plants of the new Torenia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunrenibu, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,119. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Torenia and the cultivar Sunrenibu differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia were smaller than plants of the         cultivar Sunrenibu.     -   2. Plants of the new Torenia had shorter internodes than plants         of the cultivar Sunrenibu.     -   3. Plants of the new Torenia had longer leaves than plants of         the cultivar Sunrenibu.     -   4. Plants of the new Torenia had larger flowers than plants of         the cultivar Sunrenibu.     -   5. Plants of the new Torenia and the cultivar Sunrenibu differed         in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Torenia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrenicobaio’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Sunrenicobaio’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the winter in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 10° C. Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Torenia sp. cultivar Sunrenicobaio. -   Parentage: Whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of     Torenia sp. identified as code number TH1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three to             four weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and fleshy; pale brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded to trailing plant             habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit. Freely             branching habit; pinching enhances branching.         -   Plant height.—About 9 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 63 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 33.4 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Aspect: Decumbent.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 144A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: 144C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: 137B; venation, 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: 146B; venation, 144A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;             corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely             upright. Freely flowering habit with about 50 open flowers             per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period;             continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in             Japan. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on             the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 6.9 mm.             Shape: Lenticular. Color: 144B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.9 cm by 2.6 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 4.5 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl, fused; one upper, two lateral and one lower petal.             Upper petal: Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Transversely elliptic with cuspidate apex. Margin:             Undulating. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper surface:             83A; towards the throat, N155C. Developing petals, lower             surface: 83B. Fully developed petals, upper surface: 83B;             towards the throat, N155A. Fully developed petals, lower             surface: N81A. Lateral petals: Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:             About 1 cm. Shape: Elliptic with rounded apex. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: 83A.             Developing petals, lower surface: 83B. Fully developed             petals, upper surface: 83B. Fully developed petals, lower             surface: N81A. Lower petal: Length: About 1 cm. Width: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Transversely elliptic with rounded apex.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper surface:             83A; towards the throat, 85C. Developing petals, lower             surface: 83B. Fully developed petals, upper surface: 83B;             towards the throat, 85D. Fully developed petals, lower             surface: N81A. Throat color: N81D; lines, N81A; at the base,             6B. Tube color: N81D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four fused in a             single whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 6 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 3 mm by             0.5 mm. Anther color: Between N81B and 84C. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Stigma shape:             Elliptic. Stigma color: 155C. Style color: 155C. Ovary             color: 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Torenia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Torenia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Torenia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Sunrenicobaio’ as illustrated and described. 